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Districts Affected: Lower Yukon River
The Pilot Station sonar estimated passage through August 31 is 212,000 fall chum and 188,000 coho salmon. The coho salmon passage estimate is tracking well above average, but the fall chum salmon run has been very poor, being the lowest for this date since 1995. Recent fall chum salmon daily passage has been low at the Pilot Station sonar and typically, over 80% of the fall chum salmon have entered the river by this date. Conversely, the coho salmon run continues to have good passage rates late in the season. Therefore subsistence salmon fishing time will be relaxed in the lower river districts to allow subsistence fishermen to utilize the coho salmon that remain abundant. Continuing subsistence restrictions to protect what few fall chum salmon are entering the river is not likely to provide a substantial benefit in meeting escapement needs with the anticipated low subsistence fishing effort.

Beginning 6:00 p.m. Thursday, September 3, subsistence salmon fishing in Districts Y1, Y2, and Y3 will return to their normal schedule of open fishing 24 hours a day, 7 days a week for the remainder of the season. The Coastal District and the Innoko River will continue to remain open 7 days a week, 24 hours a day.

The ADF&G field office in Emmonak is now closed for the season. For a recording of the current fishing schedule for your area call toll free 1-866-479-7387. If you have any questions regarding this report, please call the Alaska Department of Fish and Game in Fairbanks at 459-7274 or the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service office in Fairbanks at 455-1849.

This has been an announcement by the Alaska Department of Fish and Game in cooperation with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.